Johnny Duco was named Head Coach of the TMU men's hockey team on April 19th, 2017.
Duco led the Bold to the best season in program history in 2023-24. After finishing the regular season with a 19-9 record, the Bold would advance to the OUA Queen's Cup championship game for the first time ever. The team earned their spot at the U SPORTS national championship which they hosted at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, advancing to the semifinals.
Duco led TMU in a historic 2021 season, posting a 15-7 regular and postseason record to win the OUA bronze medal and finish fourth at the U Sports National Championship. Following a mid-season eight-game win streak and back-and-forth wins and losses towards the end of the regular season, the team pushed their way through the provincial championship, ousting the McGill Redbirds to come in third in the OUA and clinch a spot at nationals in Nova Scotia. In their first ever nationals win, TMU defeated the University of Brunswick Reds in a 2-1 upset, and eventually ended the postseason run in an emotional overtime loss against St. Francis Xavier. Duco was named OUA West division Coach of the Year, following TMU's first place win in the division and a riveting 11-4-0 regular season record where the team ranked first in penalty kills and second in goals per game.
Duco spent the 2016-17 season as the Interim Head Coach for TMU and had one of the most successful seasons in program history, winning 22 games. Prior to earning the Interim role, Duco was an assistant coach with the team for three seasons beginning in 2013.
TMU posted a 22-4-2 record in the 2016-17 regular season with Duco at the helm, good for top spot in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) conference. TMU had the most potent offence, averaging 4.86 goals per game – more than half a goal better than the next closest team. With Duco behind the bench the team also improved their defence, allowing fewer goals against than the season prior.
In 2017-18, Duco guided TMU to the postseason for the seventh straight year. The team finished third in the OUA West Division during the regular season with a record of 16-9-3.
TMU would claim the OUA West division title after going 20-5-3 in the 2018-19 regular season, leading the OUA in goals (133), assists (235), goals per game (4.75), and power-play percentage (25.0).
A season later in 2019-20, Duco and TMU matched their impressive 20-5-3 record. With the third most points in the entire OUA, TMU was just one point shy of tying for top spot in the OUA West.
Duco came to TMU with six years of coaching experience including three seasons in the GTHL and two years behind the bench of the Bradford Rattlers of the GMHL. Duco led the Rattlers to a perfect record (42-0-0) and to the Russell Cup championship in the 2012-13 season and was named co-coach of the year.
A Toronto, Ont. native, Duco played collegiate hockey in the NCAA with Oswego State when the Lakers were ranked No. 2 in the country. He also played for the Buffalo State Bengals and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness.
In 2010, Duco received his Masters of Science and Education from Medaille College in Buffalo.
Outside of coaching, Duco runs skill development camps and skill sessions for elite hockey players, including several professionals. He is also a certified teacher.
